It was an away victory that will ensure Rafa Benítez goes to bed happy. The Spaniard is a footballing Grand Master and will have relished his battle with Graham Potter. The senior man took the spoils courtesy of meticulous preparation, patience and flashes of quality.
With Richarlison’s future only “99.9%” certain, Demarai Gray’s is fixed. It was the latter who grabbed his second away goal in a week to put his side on their way, Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s cool-as-you-like penalty sealing a comfortable three points. The England striker hobbling off shortly afterwards was the one downside.
“We had more control – especially at the end – so it’s a little evolution of what the team is trying to do,” said Benítez. “We are improving and hopefully can continue improving.”
He never has been one to get carried away but he was right: despite Brighton’s slick interplay at times, it was Everton who dictated the contest, Allan the orchestrator-in-chief.
For all the talk of Paris Saint-Germain’s interest in Richarlison, it was Gray whose star shone brightest. An unheralded signing for relative pocket change, Gray, at 25, remains a player of immense potential. Benítez may just be the man to unlock it. That is, after all, how the post-Madrid Rafa operates, squeezing every ounce from players acquired under budgetary restrictions. Sometimes a footballer just needs to be loved and trusted.
“This is just the beginning of the work,” said his manager. “I am telling him so many times ‘you have done nothing yet; you have to carry on training well’. He has the ability to make the difference.”
Brighton endured a disappointing afternoon. After three wins, including cup success, Potter’s side appeared to have shaken the ‘look good, don’t win’ tag. But despite bright spells and dominating possession, a Pascal Gross free-kick that wrong-footed Jordan Pickford was the closest they came. They did though meet supremely organised opposition.
“Everton were a step up in quality,” said Potter. “I didn’t think we were bad, we just weren’t that good. And when we are at that level, it is hard to take points against Premier League sides.”
Having dozed through the opening half-hour, Everton suddenly found their verve. First, Andros Townsend – roundly jeered as all ex-Crystal Palace players are in these parts – cut in and forced Robert Sánchez to tip around the post low to his left.
Next, Sánchez miscued a clearance that found its way to Abdoulaye Doucoré via Townsend. The Frenchman could only scoop skyward from the edge of the area, before Richarlison did likewise a minute later.
It was a warning that went unheeded. Shortly before the break, the visitors were ahead. Gray picked up the ball just inside the Brighton half and drove forward, darted outside of Adam Webster and fired a left-foot strike past Sánchez. Benitez scrawled something on his notepad.
Potter reacted by introducing Joël Veltman at the break to go four at the back; it did not go to plan. Caught napping by Seamus Coleman’s clever inside run, the Everton captain was felled. Richarlison placed the ball on the spot; his teammates pulled him away. The crowd roared with delight; Richarlison fumed. Unperturbed, Calvert-Lewin converted.
“The first penalty in every game is Dominic and the second is Richarlison,” said Benítez. “We won, Dominic has scored and everybody has to be happy. He will understand that. He is working really hard for the team, I am happy with him and hopefully next time we have two penalties.”
The hosts pushed, Danny Wellbeck made his first appearance of the season and Taylor Richards looked lively on debut from the bench. But there was no inspiration.
Everton took their first clean sheet of the season, and off came Benítez’s spectacles into the top pocket. When will they sing his name?
